Sliding component

Abstract

Provided is a sliding component with less fluid leakage. A sliding component has a pair of sliding members at least one of which has positive pressure generation mechanisms and negative pressure generation mechanisms formed at a sliding surface of the sliding member. The negative pressure generation mechanisms are arranged on a low-pressure fluid side with respect to the positive pressure generation mechanisms. Adjoining two of the negative pressure generation mechanisms in a circumferential direction overlap with each other in a radial direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sliding component comprising a pair of sliding members at least one of which has positive pressure generation mechanisms and negative pressure generation mechanisms formed at a sliding surface of the sliding member, the negative pressure generation mechanisms being arranged on a low-pressure fluid side with respect to the positive pressure generation mechanisms, wherein
 adjoining two of the negative pressure generation mechanisms in a circumferential direction overlap with each other in a radial direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The sliding component according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the negative pressure generation mechanisms has a negative pressure generation part and a fluid discharge part, the negative pressure generation part of a first one of the adjoining two of the negative pressure generation mechanisms is arranged on the low-pressure fluid side with respect to the fluid discharge part of a second one of the adjoining two of the negative pressure generation mechanisms. 
 
     
     
       3. The sliding component according to  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the negative pressure generation mechanisms is a reverse Rayleigh step. 
 
     
     
       4. The sliding component according to  claim 3 , wherein
 each of the positive pressure generation mechanisms is a Rayleigh step having a fluid inflow part, and 
 the sliding member has, at the sliding surface thereof, a fluid introduction groove connecting the fluid discharge part of the reverse Rayleigh step and the fluid inflow part of the Rayleigh step to a high-pressure fluid side. 
 
     
     
       5. The sliding component according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the fluid introduction groove is a circulation groove having an inlet and an outlet both of which communicate with the high-pressure fluid side. 
 
     
     
       6. The sliding component according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the Rayleigh step is isolated from the low-pressure fluid side by the circulation groove. 
 
     
     
       7. The sliding component according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the low-pressure fluid side is an outer diameter side of the sliding member, and 
 the high-pressure fluid side is an inner diameter side of the sliding member. 
 
     
     
       8. The sliding component according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the low-pressure fluid side is an outer diameter side of the sliding member, and 
 the high-pressure fluid side is an inner diameter side of the sliding member. 
 
     
     
       9. The sliding component according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the low-pressure fluid side is an outer diameter side of the sliding member, and 
 the high-pressure fluid side is an inner diameter side of the sliding member. 
 
     
     
       10. The sliding component according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the low-pressure fluid side is an outer diameter side of the sliding member, and 
 the high-pressure fluid side is an inner diameter side of the sliding member. 
 
     
     
       11. The sliding component according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the low-pressure fluid side is an outer diameter side of the sliding member, and 
 the high-pressure fluid side is an inner diameter side of the sliding member. 
 
     
     
       12. The sliding component according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the low-pressure fluid side is an outer diameter side of the sliding member, and 
 the high-pressure fluid side is an inner diameter side of the sliding member.